Islamic Jihad identifies Palestinian killed by Israel as its fighter

The al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, say a Palestinian who was severely wounded by Israeli fire yesterday in the southern Gaza Strip and later succumbed to his wounds is one of its members.

“Saraya al-Quds announces the death of its martyr Mousa Abdelal,” the Islamic Jihad-linked Palestine Today reports, adding that he was hit while “performing his duty in fighting against the occupation’s aggression.”

Earlier yesterday, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said Abdelal was 22.

Since yesterday, armed groups in Gaza have fired more than 400 rockets and other projectiles at southern Israel, according to the IDF.

Meanwhile, the army has targeted dozens of sites operated by the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups, the IDF says.

Ambulance service says 27 injured so far from rocket attacks

The Magen David Adom ambulance service says it has treated 28 people injured by attacks from the Gaza Strip, including one man who was pronounced dead.

According to the emergency service, three people sustained serious injuries, including a soldier who was hit in an anti-tank missile attack near the Gaza border. The other two severely wounded people were a woman in her 60s and another woman in her 40s who were injured in rocket attacks in the city of Ashkelon.

Another 24 people were lightly wounded from shrapnel, smoke inhalation and accidents while running to bomb shelters, MDA says.

In addition, some 27 people were treated for panic attacks brought on by rocket and mortar strikes.

Ministers will back stronger response to Gaza rockets – report

Some of the ministers heading to a security cabinet meeting in Tel Aviv say they intend to support upping Israel’s military response to the rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, according to the Kan public broadcaster.

The unidentified ministers tell the radio station that they are waiting to hear what operational plans the IDF will present during the meeting.

Israel’s UN envoy calls on world body to designate Hamas a terror group

In light of the massive barrage of rockets on Israel’s south, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, urges the UN Security Council to formally recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization.

“After a day of rocket barrages, Hamas again demonstrates that it is a terrorist organization. To the world it presents its civilians as victims, but then uses them as human shields,” Danon writes in a letter to the current president of the Security Council, Ma Zhaoxu of China.

“I call on the Security Council to condemn Hamas in the strongest terms for its indiscriminate attacks against innocent civilian populations. It is time this body acknowledges and finally designates Hamas as a terrorist organization,” Danon writes.

Hamas alone is responsible for the current violence, Danon says. “Israel has cooperated with all international bodies, including the UN, but the aggressive escalation from Gaza indicates that there are elements pushing for further rounds of violence that will cause destruction and losses within the Gaza Strip.”

Qatar slams Israeli military operation that sparked Gaza escalation

Qatar condemns Israel for an apparently botched military operation in Gaza Sunday night during which a senior Hamas officer was killed and which sparked the current violence.

“The State of Qatar expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli shelling of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip that left a number of martyrs and injuries,” the Foreign Ministry in Doha says in a statement.

The Gulf state, which last week gave $15 million in cash to the authorities in Gaza, says it considers the event “a serious military escalation” that complicates “the already difficult situation in the Gaza Strip as a result of the suffocating siege imposed on it for years.”

One Israeli officer was killed in the operation, along with seven Palestinian operatives.

IDF allows opening of workplaces, preschools that are near bomb shelters

The IDF says it is lowering the alertness level for Gaza-area civilians.

In a statement from the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the army says “non-essential work” is now permitted, as long as it takes place close to a bomb shelter, and kindergartens and preschools that possess a bomb shelter on their premises are allowed to open.

Residents of the area are no longer required to remain in rocket-proof areas, the statement says.

In Ashkelon, Gabbay slams Netanyahu for ‘failing to restore calm’

Visiting the southern town of Ashkelon after residents spent much of the night in bomb shelters, Zionist Union chair Avi Gabbay slams Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for “failing to restore calm” amid an escalation in rocket fire from Gaza.

“Netanyahu transferred millions of dollars to Hamas and we received rocket fire all over the south,” Gabbay charges, referring to the $15 million cash infusion to Gaza from Qatar that Israel permitted over the weekend.

Czech president backs Israeli right to ‘aggressive response’ to Gaza rockets

The Czech Republic is backing Israel’s right to an “aggressive response” to the incessant rockets on the country’s south from Gaza.

“Hamas is clearly a terrorist organization. The missile attacks on Israel that they carry out are utterly unacceptable and must be condemned,” a spokesperson for President Milos Zeman says. “Israel has the full right to an aggressive response.”

Zeman, a staunch supporter of Israel, is due to visit the country later this month. Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček is currently in Israel on an official visit.

Man killed in Ashkelon rocket attack was a Palestinian, 48, from Hebron area

The man found dead under the rubble of an Ashkelon home hit by a rocket launched from Gaza late last night is identified this morning as 48-year-old Mahmoud Abu Asabeh, a Palestinian resident of the West Bank town of Halhul, north of Hebron.

Mahmoud Abu Asbah, 48, from the West Bank town of Halhul north of Hebron, was killed late Monday, November 12, 2018, when a rocket launched by Gaza terrorists struck a home in the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon. (Twitter screen capture)

Israeli aircraft fire on Palestinians approaching Gaza security fence

An Israeli attack helicopter and another aircraft fire on a group of Palestinian suspects the army says were seen approaching the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip, apparently killing one and injuring two others.

The IDF has warned that Hamas and other terror groups could seek to send fighters across the border in order to conduct raids inside Israel.

The IDF says the suspects were under surveillance the entire time by soldiers monitoring cameras and by troops on the ground.

Gaza mortar shell lands outside Israeli kindergarten

A mortar shell fired from the Gaza Strip explodes outside a kindergarten in one of the communities in the Sha’ar Hanegev region of southern Israel, causing damage but no injuries, local government officials say.

The school was empty at the time of the mortar strike.

A mortar shell fired from the Gaza Strip damages a safety-glass window in a kindergarten in the Sha’ar Hanegev region of southern Israel on November 13, 2018. (Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council)

The name of the community hit by the attack is withheld in order to prevent terrorists in Gaza from using the information to adjust their aim.

Israeli army shares ‘graphic’ scene at Ashkelon home struck by Gaza rocket

The IDF shares a video from a first responder at the scene of an apartment building in the city of Ashkelon struck by a rocket from Gaza on Monday, saying the footage was “graphic” but that it was important to share it “because it’s important that the world knows” what is happening in Israel.

“Last night, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired a barrage of rockets into Israel. One of the rockets struck this house in Ashkelon. This was the scene when Israeli first responders entered. It is graphic, but it’s important we show it,” the post reads.

“Hamas sees all of Israel as a target,” the army adds.

Last night, Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired a barrage of rockets into Israel. One of the rockets struck this house in Ashkelon. This was the scene when Israeli first responders entered. It is graphic, but it’s important we show it.

Underground gas tanks ignited by Gaza rocket finish burning

Firefighters have completed the cooling-off of underground gas tanks that ignited and created a massive blaze yesterday in Sderot after being hit by a rocket launched from Gaza, a spokesman for the fire service says.

The three tanks were allowed to burn their gas through the night under the watchful eye of firefighters.

The initial blaze Monday briefly set an adjacent bakery on fire, but firefighters were able to quickly gain control over that secondary blaze and prevent major damage.

Gas tanks in Sderot that ignited when struck by a Gazan rocket, then burned through the night on Monday, November 12, 2018. (Israeli Fire and Rescue Service)

Rivlin visits southern town amid rocket barrage

President Reuven Rivlin makes a solidarity visit to the southern town of Netivot amid a massive flareup of violence that has seen hundreds of rockets fired at Israeli communities adjacent to the Gaza border.

The president tells a group of residents gathered in a bomb shelter that all of Israel is standing behind them.

“I have said in the past and I will continue to say, the area around Gaza is the whole of Israel. When the sirens are screaming here, we hear them in our hearts in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and all over the country,” he says according to a statement. “Your strength gives us all strength.”

Rivlin also urges residents to obey instructions and not take unnecessary risks.

“Forget about taking photos,” the president says. “I ask all citizens of Israel and particularly those in this area to take good care of themselves and to follow the orders of the IDF.”

Norway says rocket barrage from Gaza ‘unacceptable’ and ‘must stop’

The Norwegian government has expressed concern at the massive flareup in violence in and around the Gaza Strip, and says it is working with Egypt and the UN to restore calm to the Palestinian territory.

In a a tweet, the Foreign Ministry says the hundreds of rockets launched at Israeli communities is “unacceptable & must stop,” and says restraint “must be shown by all & civilians protected.”

Norway concerned by escalation of violence in & around #Gaza. #Norway works with the @UN and #Egypt to restore calm. The massive rocket fire from Gaza is unacceptable & must stop. Restraint must be shown by all & civilians protected.

Security cabinet meeting ends after 7 hours, but no decision announced

The security cabinet concludes its meeting on the Gaza escalation at the army’s headquarters in Tel Aviv after seven hours of marathon discussions. There is no statement about whether any decision was made by the ministers about Israel’s next steps in Gaza.

The meeting’s conclusion comes amid reports from Gaza of a ceasefire, and continuing rocket fire on Israel.

Seventh Palestinian killed in Israeli airstrike, Gaza officials say

A Palestinian is killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli fire in response to a barrage of projectiles, the seventh Gazan killed since the start of the latest escalation yesterday, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.

Gaza factions deny reports of ceasefire with Israel

A source in the Palestinian terrorist groups’ joint command center in Gaza denies to the Gaza-based Dunya al-Watan news site that “a ceasefire between the Palestinian factions and the occupation’s government was reached.”

The source says “factions are continuing their military operations.”

The statement seems to contradict earlier reports that Palestinian factions had agreed to end the violence.

Hamas leader signals interest Gaza ceasefire

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is signaling a readiness to halt the latest round of fighting with Israel.

Ismail Haniyeh says in a statement that the ruling terror group will stop firing rockets at Israeli communities if the IDF stops its airstrikes in the Strip.

He says “the Palestinian resistance is defending its people and itself before the Israeli aggression,” adding that “if the occupation stops its aggression, it’s possible to return to the ceasefire understandings.”

Israeli official indicates Gaza ceasefire reached

A senior Israeli diplomatic official confirms that a ceasefire agreement has been reached with terror groups in the Gaza Strip.

“Israel maintains its right to act. Requests from Hamas for a ceasefire came through four different mediators. Israel responded that the events on the ground will decide [if a ceasefire will go into effect],” the official says, speaking on condition of anonymity.

IDF: 460 rockets fired at Israel from Gaza in 25 hours

Over 460 rockets and mortar shells were fired at southern Israel over the course of 25 hours, the army says.

The Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted over 100 of them. Most of the rest landed in open fields, but dozens landed inside Israeli cities and towns, killing one person, injuring dozens more and causing significant property damage.

In response to the rocket and mortar attacks, the Israeli military says it targeted approximately 160 sites in the Gaza Strip connected to the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups, including four facilities that the army designated as “key strategic assets.”

Four top ministers reportedly oppose latest Gaza ceasefire

At least four senior ministers are opposed to resuming the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Gaza terror groups following a major flareup in violence, according to a Channel 10 news report.

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Environmental Protection Minister Ze’ev Elkin, and Education Minister Naftali Bennett proposed an alternative response to the exchange of fire over the last 24 hours, but it was rejected by the other ministers at today’s meeting of the security cabinet.

An unnamed minster, who attended the meeting which ended in late afternoon, tells the news outlet that no vote was held to determine the next steps at the end of the 7-hour meeting.

The report comes shortly after Hamas and other Gaza terror groups said they accepted an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire with Israel and an Israeli diplomatic official indicated that Israel also accepts it.

Terms of the deal were not immediately known, and there was no immediate comment from Israel.

Lapid slams Netanyahu for reportedly accepting Gaza truce

The chairman of the Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid accuses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of abandoning residents of southern Israel by reportedly accepting an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Hamas.

“Hamas gets to stop the fighting whenever it wants,” he says in a video message posted to Twitter. “Netanyahu convened his cabinet for 7 hours and at the end they decided to abandon the residents of southern Israel and surrender Israeli deterrence.”

Southern residents protest after Israel reportedly accepts Gaza truce

Residents of southern Israel are protesting after media reports said Israel accepted an Egyptian-mediated ceasefire deal with Hamas amid a major flare-up of violence in and around the Palestinian territory.

Dozens gathered at the entrance to the city of Sderot, burning tires and blocking the road leading to the southern city.

US designates son of Hezbollah leader as ‘global terrorist’

The US State Department declares Jawad Nasrallah, the son of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as a “global terrorist” as it steps up pressure on the Lebanese group.

It calls Jawad a “rising leader” of the group who had in recent years recruited people “to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel in the West Bank.”

The State Department also maintains its 21-year-old “Foreign Terrorist Organization” designation of Hezbollah, as the group battles prime minister-designate Saad al-Hariri for a powerful role in the new Lebanese government.

Gazans flood streets for ‘victory marches’ after truce with Israel said reached

Hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas terrorist group reportedly went into effect, thousands of Gaza residents are celebrating reported truce with “victory marches” across the Strip, according to Hadashot news.

Leaders of the Hamas terrorist group praise the barrage of rockets fired into Israel over the last 24 hours, and say that resuming the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire after the major escalation is a major military victory.

“Our rockets have pounded Israel and sent a clear message: Bomb for bomb, blood for blood,” Hamas official Ismail Radwan says according to Hadashot news. “If you attack Gaza and our people, Hamas rockets will find you everywhere, in Haifa, Jaffa, Ashkelon and Ashdod.”

Hamas praises ceasefire mediators for stopping ‘Zionist aggression’

Hamas is thanking mediators from Egypt, Norway, Qatar, and the United Nations for helping broker a ceasefire deal with Israel after a severe major of violence threatened to descend into full-blown war.

In a statement, the ruling terror group says that while armed groups were “heroically” fighting “Zionist aggression” over the last 24 hours, international mediators worked tirelessly to reach another truce with Israel.

“Hamas expresses its appreciation for these valued efforts, especially the persistent Egyptian role, the UN efforts and the Norwegian and Qatari roles,” the group says in statement.

Opposition leaders slam Netanyahu over reported truce with Hamas

The leaders of the Zionist Union and Yesh Atid are criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for reportedly agreeing to a ceasefire agreement with Hamas following a major flare up in violence over the last 24 hours.

Livni calls the apparent decision to abide by the terms of the Egyptian-brokered truce “a colossal security failure on the part of the right-wing government,” and says the move dealt a “fatal blow to Israel’s deterrence.”

“Tonight it was made clear that the Right has no solution to security, but we do,” Livni says in a statement. “We put it on the table four years ago, and now it needs to be implemented.”

Labor leader Avi Gabbay also levels harsh criticism against Netanyahu, saying that his government’s policy regarding Hamas has failed the residents of Israel.

“For four years, Netanyahu has abandoned residents of the periphery and neglected the issues in Gaza,” he says in a statement.

“The residents of southern Israel shouldn’t have to hear about the ceasefire from Al Jazeera, they deserve genuine leadership that is prepared to look them in the eye and tell them the truth,” Gabbay says.

PA official: Egypt trying to convince Israel to accept Gaza truce

The Palestinian UN ambassador says Egyptian mediators are in Israel trying to get the government to agree on a Gaza cease-fire.

Riyad Mansour, who represents the Western-backed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, tells reporters at UN headquarters in New York that “we are grateful for the Egyptians who are mediating.”

The Gaza-based terrorist group Hamas says it agreed to the Egyptian cease-fire proposal. There has been no official word yet from Israel, though a minister indicated that Israel agreed to the truce.

Mansour says “the Palestinian side is holding the quietness in order to allow for the Egyptian efforts to succeed.”

He says Abbas is returning from Kuwait for emergency meetings.

Mansour accuses Israel of starting the cycle of violence with a botched undercover military operation on Sunday.

At the Palestinians’ request, he says, Kuwait and Bolivia have asked for a meeting of the UN Security Council on the Israeli actions. China, the current council president, has called for closed consultations later today.

Polls close in tense round 2 of Jerusalem municipal elections

Polls closed tonight at 10 p.m. in the tense Jerusalem mayoral runoff between candidates Moshe Lion and Ofer Berkovitch, with turnout rates in the capital reported at a mere 26.3 percent, in a race largely overshadowed by an outbreak of violence in southern Israel.

According to the Interior Ministry, as of 9:45 p.m., just over one quarter of eligible Jerusalem residents –168,000 of 638,000 — had exercised their right to pick their next mayor.

A second round of municipal voting was held today in 54 cities, towns, and regional councils — areas in which no single candidate garnered at least 40% of the vote on October 30.

The preliminary results are expected to trickle in overnight, with a final count anticipated tomorrow.

State Department condemns ‘unacceptable’ rocket fire from Gaza

The US State Department says it stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barrage of rockets and mortars fired into Israel by armed groups in the Gaza Strip.

“We condemn in the strongest terms the rocket, missile, and mortar attacks that are taking place from Gaza into Israel,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says at press conference.

“We call for the sustained halt of those attacks. We stand with Israel as Israel defends itself against these attacks. It is simply unacceptable to target civilians.”

Earlier, Gaza terrorist groups announced an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel after a severe escalation of violence threatened to descend into full-blown war. Israel has yet to comment on the ceasefire claims.

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